Lake County announces 3 finalists to succeed Pera
Two magistrate judges and a town court judge have been selected as finalists to fill a judicial vacancy in Lake Superior Court, Civil Division 6.
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Indianapolis’ Oaktree Apartments demolition order affirmed
A demolition order for a northeast-side Indianapolis apartment complex vacant for more than five years was affirmed Thursday by the Indiana Court of Appeals, which stopped short of ordering the dilapidated property’s owners in England to pay the city’s legal fees in long-running nuisance litigation.
Receiver for million-dollar Corvette affirmed but bond required
Long-running litigation over the fate of a legendary Corvette racecar appears slightly closer to the finish line, as an appeals court Thursday gave the green flag to a receivership appointed to sell the car. However, the appellate panel instructed the trial court to require the receiver be bonded as required by law.
Felony drug conviction affirmed, but public defender fee reversed
A man’s felony drug convictions were affirmed Thursday, but a trial court’s order requiring him to pay a $250 public defender fee and reimburse a northern Indiana county for his medical expenses were struck down by the Indiana Court of Appeals.
7th Circuit rules against inmate’s FOIA requests in triple-murder
A Southern District Court judge’s order that the federal government disclose personal information stemming from a triple murder it had previously refused to turn over has been reversed. The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals found that public interest does not support the information’s disclosure, simultaneously affirming that certain documents were protected by an exception of the Freedom of Information Act.
NIPSCO loses appeal in damaged gas line small-claims suit
An excavation company found at fault for the destruction of a new home’s gas line will still have to pay up to the Northern Indiana Public Service Company despite the latter’s assertion that the company could not be held liable for a landscaper’s failure to mark the gas lines.
Leader of BAE tuition reimbursement scam sentenced
A Fort Wayne man has been sentenced to a year in prison and ordered to pay $566,000 in restitution for a tuition reimbursement scam involving dozens of former employees of a British defense contractor.
7th Circuit reverses, remands two kidnapping enhancements
Three men who kidnapped and tortured a South Bend man have received different rulings from the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, which affirmed a 37-year prison sentence for one defendant and vacated 10-year firearm enhancements for the other two.
Random drug screen requirement reversed for mom in CHINS case
A mother found driving intoxicated with her three minor children in the car lost her appeal of a determination that they are children in need of services, but won a reversal of a requirement that she submit to random drug screens as part of her parental participation order.
Justices deny transfer to murderer, parents’ appeals
Indiana Supreme Court justices unanimously denied transfer to more than 20 cases last week, including appeals from a man who is serving 70 years behind bars for murdering his girlfriend and from parents who claim medical care providers failed to properly treat their infant daughter.
Virginia transgender bathroom case: Judge favors ex-student
A federal judge in Virginia ruled Friday that a school board’s transgender bathroom ban discriminated against a former student, Gavin Grimm, the latest in a string of decisions nationwide that favor transgender students who faced similar policies.
Justices affirm parental rights for homeless mother of six
A mother who fought to be reunited with her six minor children secured the Indiana Supreme Court’s favor after justices unanimously affirmed a finding that the termination of her parental rights due to her homelessness was not in the children’s best interests.
In contamination case, 7th Circuit cleans up messy preclusion fight
Even though none of the businesses disagreed over who contaminated a manufacturing site, the question of who should pay for the cleanup became a fight over claim preclusion that ended with the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals offering instructions on how the lawsuit should have been defended.
Ruling for insurer in $78K hacking case reversed in part
The Indiana Court of Appeals partially affirmed an insurance company’s first award of judgment in a computer hacking theft but reversed on the second after finding no conflict between the appellant’s deposition testimony and a statement in his affidavit.
Reversal: USDA farm wetlands ruling arbitrary and capricious
A Hancock County farm family denied U.S. Department of Agriculture benefits since the removal of nine trees from their farm in the 1990s prevailed in litigation against the agency. The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals entered judgment for the family, finding USDA’s rulings in the case arbitrary and capricious.
Ruling affirmed for woman in emailed debt collection notice case
Judgment for a woman who was sent two debt collection notices by email has been affirmed by the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals, which found the emails did not contain statutorily required disclosures.
Anderson man facing murder, feticide charges after girlfriend shot
An Anderson man faces a murder charge and two feticide counts after alleging shooting his pregnant girlfriend in the back of her head, leading to the deaths of both of her unborn male twins.
Justices reject wrongful death claims against IPS in student’s murder
The estate of a murdered teenage boy could not convince the Indiana Supreme Court that his school was negligent for his death. Instead, justices found the estate’s claims to be barred under contributory negligence law.
Habitual offender enhancement in plea not involuntary, COA holds
The denial of a prisoner’s petition for post-conviction relief has been upheld after the Indiana Court of Appeals concluded the man’s guilty plea that included a habitual criminal offender enhancement was not involuntary.
Man pleads guilty to robbery in Gary shootout that wounded agent
A Chicago man who was involved in an Indiana shootout in which a federal agent was wounded and another suspect was killed has pleaded guilty to robbery.